Calibrachoa plant named ‘KLECA20538’

ABSTRACT

A new  Calibrachoa  plant designated ‘KLECA20538’ particularly distinguished by a semi-trailing plant habit, and dark pink flowers with violet-blue centers and venation, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Calibrachoa sp.

Variety denomination: ‘KLECA20538’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Calibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLECA20538’. ‘KLECA20538’ originated from a controlled cross in August 2016 in Stuttgart, Germany between the proprietary female Calibrachoa parent ‘CA-2015-6598’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male Calibrachoa ‘CA-2013-0354’ (unpatented). Progeny from the cross were planted and a single plant was selected in May 2017 in Stuttgart, Germany.

‘KLECA20538’ has been found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation in Stuttgart, Germany via vegetative tip cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of ‘KLECA20538’ when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany and Latina, Italy.

-   -   1. A semi-trailing plant habit; and     -   2. Dark pink flowers with violet-blue centers and venation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Calibrachoa plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph of a plant grown outdoors in Stuttgart, Germany. The photograph shows the whole plant, including the flowers and foliage and buds. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photograph is of a plant that is 16-weeks-old, taken outdoors in July 2019 in Stuttgart, Germany.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLECA20538’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Latina, Italy. Data was collected on plants grown 14-weeks since potting in a greenhouse with no pinching and using BONZI. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.         -   Botanical.—Calibrachoa sp.         -   Designation.—‘KLECA20538’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘CA-2015-6598’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—‘CA-2013-0354’ (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Life cycle.—Annual.         -   Form.—Short-lived subshrub.         -   Habit.—Semi-trailing.         -   Height (from soil line to top of foliage).—15.5 cm.         -   Spread.—40.0 cm.         -   Propagation type.—Vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—3 weeks.         -   Pests and disease resistance.—No particular pest or disease             resistance observed to date. -   Stems:     -   -   Stem color.—RHS 144B (Yellow-Green).         -   Pubescence.—Present.         -   Pubescence color.—RHS 155A (White).         -   Stem diameter.—0.15 cm.         -   Stem length.—From soil line to first node: 0.2 cm. Total             length: 17.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—1.6 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Ciliate.         -   Variegation.—Absent.         -   Surface texture.—Upper surface: Pubescent. Lower surface:             Pubescent.         -   Pubescence color.—RHS 155A (White).         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 144A (Yellow-Green).             Lower surface: RHS 144A (Yellow-Green).         -   Length.—2.3 cm.         -   Width.—0.2 cm to 0.7 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137C (Green). Lower surface: RHS             138A (Green).         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Petiole.—Absent; sessile. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Flowering type.—Single flowers.         -   Flowering requirements.—A minimum of light sun is required.         -   Flowering season.—Continuous flowering from spring through             autumn and all the time or year around in a greenhouse             environment.         -   Duration of flowers.—6 days.         -   Corolla texture.—Smooth.         -   Shape.—Funnel form.         -   Lobing of the flower.—Weak.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flowers per plant.—About 32.         -   Flower depth.—3.0 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—3.9 cm.         -   Flower tube length.—1.0 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—0.7 cm.         -   Pedicel color.—RHS 144A (Yellow-Green).         -   Pedicel length.—2.0 cm. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Surface texture.—Pubescent.         -   Typical number of buds per plant at any time.—Around.         -   Length.—2.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Irregular to oblong.         -   Color.—The throat is RHS 150D (Yellow-Green) and the limbs             are RHS 70A (Red-Purple). -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—1.7 cm to 3.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 144A (Yellow-Green).         -   Texture.—Puberulent.         -   Anthocyanin color.—Absent. -   Sepals:     -   -   Calyx.—Funnel-shaped, salver-form.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Surface texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Pubescent.         -   Quantity per flower.—5.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Ciliate.         -   Length.—1.1 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.35 cm.         -   Sepal color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A (Green). Lower surface:             RHS 137B (Green). -   Petals:     -   -   Shape.—Obcordate.         -   Quantity per flower.—5 fused petals, each petal comprised of             2 lobes.         -   Length (without tube).—1.1 cm.         -   Apex.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Base.—Fused into the tube.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Smooth.         -   Lobe length.—1.4 cm.         -   Lobe width.—1.6 cm.         -   Color.—Lobe color: Upper surface: RHS N57A (Red-Purple) and             fading to RHS N63B (Red-Purple); RHS 203B (Black)             transitioning from the petal/lobe to the corolla tube and             fading to RHS N92A (Violet-Blue); transition lobe color size             is medium and rounded; RHS N92A (Violet-Blue) venation and             does not fade in color with time. Lower surface: RHS 63B             (Red-Purple) and fading to RHS 62B (Red-Purple) with RHS             N92A (Violet-Blue) venation. Corolla tube color: Inner             surface: RHS 160A (Greyed-Yellow). Outer: RHS 160B             (Greyed-Yellow) with N92A (Violet-Blue) veins.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamen number.—5.         -   Anther color.—RHS 12A (Yellow).         -   Anther shape.—Bi-lobed and ovoid.         -   Anther length.—Less than 0.1 cm.         -   Filament color.—RHS 145C (Yellow-Green).         -   Filament length.—0.4 cm.         -   Pollen color.—RHS 12A (Yellow).         -   Pollen amount.—Moderate.         -   Placenta arrangement.—Basal.         -   Pistil number.—1.         -   Pistil length.—0.9 cm.         -   Stigma color.—RHS 145B (Yellow-Green).         -   Stigma shape.—Rounded.         -   Style length.—0.7 cm.         -   Style color.—RHS 145C (Yellow-Green). -   Fruit and seed set: No fruit or seed set observed.

COMPARISON OF ‘KLECA20538’ WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLECA20538’ is a distinct variety of Calibrachoa and is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male Parent Characteristic ‘KLECA20538’ ‘CA-2015-6598’ ‘CA-2013-0354’ Earliness to Flowers 2 days Medium - flowers Medium - flowers flower earlier than 2 days later than 2 days later than each parent ‘KLECA20538’ ‘KLECA20538’ Branching Good Medium Not as much branching branching branching a ‘KLECA20538’ but more branching than the female parent Habit Semi-trailing Trailing Trailing

‘KLECA20538’ is a distinct variety of Calibrachoa and differences between ‘KLECA13252’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,286), also known as MINIFAMOUS ‘Neo Purple’ are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLECA20538’ ‘KLECA13252’ Earliness to flower Flowers 5 days earlier Flowers 5 days later than ‘KLECA13252’ than ‘KLECA20538’ Growth habit More compact than Less compact than ‘KLECA13252’ ‘KLECA20538’ Habit Semi-trailing Trailing 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Calibrachoa plant designated ‘KLECA20538’ as illustrated and described herein. 